Turn-shoe re-forming machine.



A. BATES & H. E. COOPER. runs anon az-roaumo momma. APPLIOATIOI HLBD API. 21. 1000.

1,121,967. Patented 1m 22,19m

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I/WT/VLSISES MG. 0 6 4% 5o UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

ARTHUR BATES, 0F LEICESTER, AND HAROLD E. COOPER, 0F NORWICH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATEBSON, NEW JER- SEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TURN-SHOE IRE-FORMING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

Application filed April 27, 1909. Serial No. 492.489.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR BATES and HAROLD E. Coorsn, subjects of the King of England, residing at Leicester, in the county of Leicester, England, and Norwich, in the county of Norfolk. England, respectivelv, have invented certain Improvements in Turn-Shoe Re-Forming Machines, of which the following description. in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for re-forming or otherwise operating on boots and shoes, and has particular reference to the manufacture of what are known in the art as turn shoes. A turn shoe is one in which the upper and the sole are sewn together with their wrong side outermost, the shoe subsequently being turned, to bring its right side outermost, either by hand or upon a machine. This operation of turning the shoe has the etfect of distorting its shape considerably, so that it is customary, before anv further operations are performed upon the shoe, to place the shoe upon a last and to beat and rub it with a hand tool to re-form it, i. e., to return it into its proper shape.

A special object of the present invention is to perform this re-forming operation in a better and more expeditious manner than has been possible heretofore and. accordingly, one feature of the invention is the provision of a machine for reforming turn s qpmprising in combination means for stflefacifing the boot and means which by g the sole not only re-forms it, but s 'm it so that it can retain the boot in approximately the form into which it was stretched The means for stretching the upper may be an expansible jack of appropriate size and shape upon which the shoe is placed and which is then expanded, either by hand or power, to stretch the upper and cause it to conform to the she of the jack. The jack may be expanded in a yielding manner to obviate danger of injury to the shoe.

In a construction wherein the jack is expanded and contracted mechanically a con.- venient: arrangement com rises a clutch mechanism that'automst cn stops the com traction and expansion of the jack in either of its extreme positions to permit work to be removed from and placed upon the jack or to be operated upon while stretched.

The sole molding means may comprise any suitable beating-out device, such as a roller between which and the jack there is provision for relative motion so that the roller may act upon the sole of the shoe on the jack and rub it into shape. Preferably. the roller is rotated by connections from any suitable source of power and it may be pro videdwith ribs or projections to etiect a beating as well as a rubbing action upon the sole.

In a convenient construction the roller is movable by hand to act upon the work and there is a support for holding it in its inoperative position, anv suitable driving connections being provided to convev motion to it from the machine of which it forms a part or from any other source of power. Convenientlv, these connections can be arranged so that when the roller is nlnced upon its support it is automaticallv disconnected from the source of power, and conversely, when it is removed from the support into operation upon the work the counection with the source of power is e tablished. Advantageously the connections may be flexibleor may be made telescopic or otherwise variable in length so as to co npensate for variations in the height of the sole upon the jack'due to the spring of the shoe.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a machine for reforming boots and shoes comprising in combination an expansible jack, a last support, a roller. and connections between the roller and its driver constructed and arranged to permit the roller while being driven to be brought at will into operative relationship either with the jack or with the last support.

It is obvious that this invention is applicable to other machines than machines for re-forming shoes and the several features of the invention, including those special once before mentioned and others which havntodo with the general utility of the maohimt: mdoslso/ certain more impoi-tantdetails-olfconstruction and combinations oi-pom-will appear more fully in allowing description of chine. Fig. '2 is a left side elevation.

the illustrated embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the ma- Fig. 3 is a detail of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a. vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. l is a front elevation. partly in section. and on a larger scale showing connections for driving the heating-out device. Fig. 5 is a detail of Fig. i. partly in vertical section at right angles to the plane of Fig. l.

The frame 2 of the machine includes two columns 3 and i. the former of which supports an expanding jack formed. as shown best in Fig. of relatively movable arms carrying the fore part and heel portions of a shoe form. The fore part is shown as supported directly by the column 3. while the heel part is supported bv a lever 5 which is fulcrumed at 6 to the column and extending downwardly into connection with means for actuating it to move the lever from and toward the fore part for distending lengthwise a shoe which may have been placed upon the jack or form when in its contracted position. This arrangement provides for thrusting the heel part of the form into the relatively substantial heel part of the shoe. thus drawing the forward portion of the shoe tightly about the fore part of the form or jack. The parts of the form are made removable to permit parts to be used which are of appropriate size and style for different shoes to be treated The lower end of the lever 5 is provided with an eye in which is held a cylindrical block. The block and the eye are bored transversely to receive a rod 8 which is screwed into aboss formed on an eccentric strap 10 which embraces an eccentric 12 on a shaft 14. The shaft is turned in bearings in the frame by a gear 15 meshing with a gear 16 having onehalf the number of teeth that the gear 15 has and which is driven from the main driving shaft 18 of the machine. The lever 5 is yieldingly connected with the eccentric rod 8 so that the heel part of the jack will be thrust yieldingly when it in'stmtchin the shoe and the rod. which ismdnced w ere it extends through the lever, and has a shoulder at 20 through which it actuates the lever 5 positively in the direction for contracting the jack. A spring 29 encircles the rod 8 on the right hand side and the force for expanding the shoe is. therefore. transmitted throu h this spring to the lever. The tension 0 this spring is controlled by a. hand wheel 24 threaded on the rod 8 and located in convenient position to be manipulated by the operator at any time to change the tension of the s ring and thereby the orce with which the s 0e 19 being distended; for example, this hand wheel may be manipulated whilb a "shoe is held on the jack in distended position and by such manipulation the force acting to distend the shoe may be manually increased or tliniiir ished after the automatic operation of the Jack. The eccentric rod 8 also is pl'UYlllU'l with a hand wheel 25 by which it may be screwed more or less into the boss of the eccentric strap 10 to change the normal angular position of the lever 5 and therefore the normal relation of the lever and the fore part of the jack for shoes of dili'erent sizes. This provision renders unnecessary such frequent changes of the parts of the form or jack as would otherwise be required for lif ferent sizes of shoes The pinion 16 or the portion of shaft carrying it is connected to the main ilrivinu shaft 18 by a clutch which may be of 1lll suitable form so arranged that when the pinion has made a predetermined num er of revolutions said pinion will be automatirallv disconnected from the driving shaft. If the clutch is arranged to cause the pinion to stop at the end of one complete revolution the lever 5 will make one movement -as. e

for example. to expand the jack and lis tend the shoe-and then come to rest ith the shoe in distended condition. and at the next actuation of the machine the lever will be reversely moved and come to rest with the jack in contracted position. If the clutch arranged to give a plural number of rotations to the pinion 16 the lever 5 will re peatedly move the heel part of the form away from the fore part for rapidly expanding the jack and distending the shoe. The clutch will of course be arranged to cause the machine to come to rest with the shoe in distended condition. Each alternate actuation of the machine will preferably cause a single rotation of the pinion i l to actuate the ]ack from an expanded to a ontracted condition. A clutch controlling llC' vice 30 is shown in Fig. '2 arranged to moperated through a rod 32 depending from the hand lever 3i fulcrumed at 6 and whi h is normally held in the position shown ii a spring 35. As has been earlier suggested. it is contemplated that the shoe which has been distended by the expanding jack vlll stantially to its normal shape and size ll1lll be treated to smooth and shape it so that it will have the desired appearance when re moved from the jack. It is found that in makin shoes of very light or very stretch) stock t e upper is distended too much if the shoe is thus distended or otherwise treated while it remains on an expanding jacl; in which. as in the construction above described. the expansion is effected through a spring which continues to exert expanding force while the jack is at rest, as in Fig. 1. To prevent this dificnlty in making such light or stretchy shoes the hand wheel 2 t. controlling the Spring 22, may be adjusted to relax the tension of that sprin or alternatively means may be provide for reslstin the action of the spring while the shoe is ield in distended condition and reventing further expansion of the jack. or this purpose an eccentric 36 15 shown as mounted in the column 3 in front of the lever 5 and provided with an operating lever 38 by which it ma v be turned into position to limit the movement of the lever in the direction for expanding the jack. This eccentric may be positioned before the machine is started in the event that it is desired to use it as a stop for limiting the automatically efl'ected expansion of the jack or the eccentric may be turned down to revent further expansion of the jack and distention of the shoe while the shoe is being treated on the expanded jack. The operating lever 38 has a spring plunger 30 for frictionally engaging a plate *0 to hold the lever in the position to which it has been adjusted. The rod 32 may have a lug 42 adapted, when the clutch controlling lever ill is depressed for restarting the machine to contract the jack, to spring under the operating lever 38 and in the upward movement at said bar to turn the eccentric into an inoperative position. By this means the eccentric, after having been used to prevent further expansion of the jack during the treatment 0 a shoe may be restored to its inoperative position where it will not interfere with the normal expansion of the jack with the next shoe applied to it.

The driving shaft 18 is provided with fast and loose pulleys 45, -16, the former of v-hich has an internal gear from which is rapidly driven a small pinion on a shaft 48 connected by beveled gears 49 with a vertical shaft 50, see Figs. 1 and 3. The upper portion of the shaft 50 is tubular and tcle scopes a dependin shaft 5'3 having a toothed collar 51 a apted for engagement with a recessed collar 55 on the shaft 50 for clutching the two shafts together. The sha ft 52 is connected by a ball and socket or other suitable joint with the lower one of two telescopic sections 56. 57 of an extensible shaft. which in turn is connected. as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, by a universal joint with a shaft 58 mounted in a frame 60 and connected by beveled gears with a shaft 62 upon which is fast a beating-out roll or other suitable tool 64. The frame 60 or extensions of the shaft 62 carried therein are pro ided with handles 65 by which the roll inav be liftedand moved over the work nhile it is being rotated through the connections described with the driving mechanism. The machine is provided with a bracket conveniently arranged to receive the roll when the roll is not to be used. The bracket is so located that in placing the roll in it the extensible shaft 56, Wis drawn out and the collar 54 is lifted to withdraw its projections from the recesses in the collar 57 and thereby disconnect the shaft= and so that the shaft 5-2 is not rotated by the shaft .70. When the roll is lifted From itssupporting bracket and brought into po ition for operating upon the shoe the Ii-- lance between it and the frame of the rum chine is shortened scliicientlv to alto".- the clutch members Si. .33 to reugnge and thereby cause the roll to be driven -xh'zlc it is in position to treat the shoe. spr ng arranged between the members ST or the extensible shaft to allow variations in [he norking position of the roll as it is !!.r|='.=\l over different portions of the shoe. Tl-=- rlriving connection between the shaft and the shaft 56 may convcnientlf. uiltu'isc a ball formed in the lower end of -.l1;: it and held in the socket in the other shaft. said ball being provided with a trans PM.) bar or laterally projecting studs rap able of vertical movement in slots in the gri 'lil nalls. The driving connection l)-'.-t-'-'i the shaft section 7 and the section 55 is gmilarly formed by a hall having :1 t";'ll\"?l'-'l' bar T3 and the frame 60 has dependi g flanges 74. This connection permits. r th n certain limits. :1 free tipping mow-aunt 1 the roll in all directions. The e iming connections allow the roll to be tiitrrl as well as moved forwardlv and hwrl-uqnllv for rubbing or beating down different ortions of the shoe to be treated. Thev also permit a lateral movement of the tor-l to bring it into position to operate upon '1 shoe carried by a shoe support on the s cond or right-hand column 4. It is found desirable sometimes to remove a shoe from the pansible jack after the shoe has horn stretched and to apply it to a non-expansi ble last or support such as that sh n on the right-hand column. The shoe is than beaten out by the use of the roll -l.

In the use of the mach ne the shoe afiplied to a jack when the latter is cont a tcd--that is. when the heel part is posit oned closely adjacent to the fore part bv the i-ngagement of the shoulder '20 on the era-0Tb trio rod with the co iperating portion f the lever 55. At this time the gear to r l be disconnected from the driving mechani m and the beating roll 64 will rest n bracket 70. as shown in Fig. 1. ith the clutch members 54, 55 disconnected. The shoe will have been turned right s de out before being applied to the expansible m and to start the machine the operator w ll depress the controlling lever 34-. whercbr the eccentric will be actuated to rock the lever 5 yieldingly through the spring '29 as many times as the clutch is arranged for and will come to rest with the lack in the position shownin Fig. 2 in which t holds the shoein distended cond tion. The rulibing roll or heating device isthen lifted from its support and while being moved into operative relation to the shoe. it be comes automatically connected with its driving mechanism by the descent of the clutch member bl into driving engagement with the clutch member 55. whereby the roll is rapidly turned. The operator carrying the roll in his two hands moves it over the shoe into such positions and with such pres sure as in his judgment is required for beatingout the shoe. This operation upon the shoe sole reforms it or shapes it and stitfens the sole so that the sole assists substantially in maintaining the relatively tlexiiile shoe upper in its distended or re formed condition after the shoe has been removed from the jack. To restart the machine for contracting the jack the operator rgain depresses the controlling lever 3i and the machine comes to rest with the heel piece ro ked toward the fore part of the divided last or form so that the shoe can be readilv stripped 0a the jack without distorting its shape. The shoe may then be permitted to dry on a rack for making permanent the shape given to it on the jack.

If the shoe under treatment at any time is being stretched too much or too little the tension of the spring 22 will be adjusted by the hand wheel 2% and if it is desired to prevent the shoe from being distended more by the tension of the spring '22 during the heating-out operation on the shoe sole. the eccentric 36 may be positioned as shown in Fig. 2 to lock the lever 5 against further movement or the eccentric may be used to move the lever in opposition to the spring .22 to contract. and then reexpand the jack. The heel piece of the jack is preferably provided with a sole plate which extends forwardly to bridge the space between the heel piece and the fore part whereby the expanded jack presents a continuous sole portion to sustain the sole of the shoe for the operation of the beating-out device thereon. The front portion of the plate is thin and beveled so that there is no abrupt shoulder at its end. The plate is preferably of resilien! material and so positioned and secured upon the heel piece that it will in all positions of the latter hug the bottom face of the fore part.

Having explained the nature of this invention and described a machine embodying the same and particularly adapted for reforming turn shoes. although it will be understood that the invention may be used for any other purposes for which it is adapted. we claim as new and desire to se cure by Letters Patent of the United States:

l. A machine for operating on shoes. having in combination, an expansible jack, power-driven means operating through a yielding element to expand the jack to dis tend the shoe on the jack. and mean to be held in the hands of and manipulated by the operator over the shoe bottom and to be onnected with or disconnected from aid power driven means separately from the jack for tperating on the shoe while it in, in distended ccndition.

2. A machine for re-forming turn shoes. having' in combination, means f r distending the shoe to substantially its normal shape and size after it has been turned and holding it in its distended condition. a man ually guided beating-out tool to operate on the sole while the shoe is so held and per driving means having operati e wounr ti u with said means to dietend the ii e. and with said tool to beat out the hoe.

3. A machine for re-tcrming ti'rn sh e having in combination, an expansi l- Quit. power-driven means yieldinglv c nne ted with the ack to expand it. a wutifli' 'itt tool and tool driving connections arrang d to permit the tool to be started and t ped while the shoe is maintained in distended condition upon the jack.

4. A machine for re-forming turn .llO having in combination. an expansi le iaclt. power-driven means to expand the ink and automatically come to rest holding" niarlt and the shoe thereon in expanded condition. a manually sustained and manipulated dine sole beating-out device. and pounrdrivt-u means for actuating said device to eat out the shoe while it. is held in expand l mndition. said machine having pl ltlrl ll f r controlling the operation of the beatinu' mtt device separately from the jack.

5. A machine for re-t'orming turn shoe having in combination, an expansilile jack. power-driven means to expand the litt'h and automatically come to rest holdiue the inch and the shoe thereon in expanded wondition. a beating-out device movable from an in operative position at the will of the perator. a driven member. and means operati e on a movement of said beatingaiut device from inoperative position to operative poi tion to establish driving connerti n be tween said device and said driven llltlll cr.

6. A machine for re-forming turn -hoes. having in combination. an expansil-le iarlt. power-driven means to expand the lzi 'li and automatically come to rest holding the iaclt and the shoe thereon in expanded condition. a beatingout device constructed and arranged to be carried by the hands f the operator from an inoperative positi n to an operative position, a driven mem er. and means adapted for establishing and di continuing connection between the driien tllciit bet and the beating out device while au:l device is being carried toward and from operative pckition.

7. A machine for e-forming turn dices. having in combination, an expansible jack lOB ada ted to receive a shoe, power-driven meciianism arranged to expand the jack hile it remains in shoe receiving position, a manually controlled and manipulated shoe sole beating-out roll, power-driven mechanism for said roll, and means which can e operatively connected at will with said last named power-driven mechanism for actuating the roll to do its work while the shoe is held in distended condition by the jack.

8. A machine for reforming turn shoes having, in combination, an expansible ack to distend the upper ot' a shoe. power driving means for efi'ecting expansion of the jack and operative subsequently to eti'ect contraction thereof, a beating-out device arranged for manual manipulation to rub and thereby extend the sole of the shoe and power driving means operatively connected with said beatingout device.

J. A machine for re-lorming turn shoes. having in combination, on expansible jack to distend the upper of a shoe, :1 beating-out device serving to distend the sole. power driven means to actuate the jack, and power driving means operatively connected with said beating-out device to actuate the beating-out device for the purpose described.

10. machine for re forming turn shoes, having in combination, an expansible jack to distend the upper of a shoe, a beating-out device serving to distend the sole, owerdriven means to expand the jack. and indeendently controlled power-driven means or actuating the beating-out device.

11. A machine for re-forming turn shoes. having in combination. an expansible jack to distend the upper of the shoe, a beatingout device. a spring, means to put the spring under tension tending to expand the jac and stretch the upper, and means to actuate the beating-out device to stretch the sole to facilitate and compensate for the stretching of the u r.

12. A mac me for re-forming turn shoes. having in combination with suitable power driving mechanism, a jack to support a shoe, a shoe sole beating-out device movable from an inoperative position to a position for operation 11 on the bottom of a shoe sustained on sai jack, power drivin mechanism for said beating-out device an means adapted to establish driving connection between said device and the driving mechanism as the device is moved from its inoperative position.

13. A machine for re-forming turn shoes having. in combination with suitable driving mechanism, a jack to support a shoe. :1 shoe sole beating-out device movable from an inoperative position to an operative position over the shoe bottom, a continuous physical connection of said device with said driving mechanism, and means comprising relatively movable elements in said physical connection for establishing a mechanical driving connection between said beatingout device and said driving mechanism as a necessary incident to movement of said device from said inoperative position to said operative position.

1- A machine for re-forming turn shoes having, in combination with suitable driving mechanism, a jack to support a shoe. a shoe sole bcating-out device movable rel-.itiveiy to said driving mechanism from an inoperative position to a position over the shoe bottom, and means operated entirely by said relative movement of the lJn-niili; out device to its driving mechanism to establish mechanically a driving connection between said device and the driving mechanism during movement of said device from said inoperative position to said position over the shoe bottom.

15. A machine for re-forming turn wilOLa' having. in combination with suitable diiving mechanism, a jack to support a shoe. a beatin -out device adapted to be manually guide over the work, a support to hold said device when it is not in use. and means to establish mechanically a driving connection between said device and said driving mechanism as a necessary incident to movement of the device from said support to work angaging position.

16. A. machine for re-forming turn shoes having, in combination with suitable driving mechanism. a jack to support a shoe. a. shoe sole beating-out device manually movable from an inoperative position to an operative position over the bottom of a shoe supported on the jack and movable over the. shoe bottom to treat diti'errnt parts of the sole. and a driving connection betuern said device and said mechanism including a clutch controlled entirely mechanically as an incident to movement of said device.

17. A machine for re-forming turn slim-s having. in combination with suitable dr'u ing mechanism, a jack to sup ort a shoe. :1 beating-out device movable rom and or ward the shoe and rotatable in engagement with the shoe to do its work, a continuous physical connection of said device with mill driving mechanism, and means comprising relatively movable elements in said ])l\ \':ll :!l connection for establishing a mechanical driving connection between said device :iu-l said mechanism as an incident to movement of said device toward the shoe and breakiry. such connection as an incident to inmcuiunt of said device from the shoe for starting and stoppin rotation of said device.

18. A mac ice for re-forming turn shoes, having in combination with driving mecha nism, a jack to support the shoe. a beatingout roll to treat! the sole, a bracket for the roll at a higher level than the sole of the shoe, an extensible connection from the roll to the driving mechanism, and a clutch arranged to be opened when the roll is raised to the bracket and closed when the roll is lowered to the work.

19. A machine for re-forming turn shoes, having in combination with driving mechanism. a jack to support the shoe. a beatingout roll to treat the sole. a bracket for the roll at a higher level than the sole of the shoe. and an extensible connection from the roll to the driving mechanism arranged to cause the roll to be stopped when it is raised to the bracket and to permit the vertical movements of the roll required for its several working positions without interrupting the driving connection.

'30. A machine for reforming turn shoes, having in combination an expansible jack, to support a last. a beating-out roll, suitable driving mechanism, and connections between the driving mechanism and the beatingout roll constructed and arranged to permit the roll while being driven to be brought at will into operative relationship either with the jack or with the shoe on the jack.

"31. turn shoe reforming machine having, in combination, means atlording an uninterrupted support for the sole of the shoe throughout the length of the shoe and acting Copies of this patent may be obtained for he cent: each, by addrenin the expansively upon the shoe sole and upper in a yielding manner throughout the reforming operation. and a mechanically operated hand guided roller for beating out the supported sole throughout its length progressively and which by its action on the sole. contributes to the shoe expanding action of the first men tioned means.

22. An apparatus of the class described having. in combination, a jack to support a shoe in position to be treated. a tool for treating the shoe constructed and arranged to be held in and manipulated by the hands of the operator, a holder to receive the tool when it is not in use, and driving means for the tool including a clutch which can be moved with the tool in the hands of the operator, said apparatus being provided with means operating positively to cause opening of the clutch to be elfected by the of the tool to the holder.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR BATES. HAROLD E. COOPER.

\Vitnesses:

GRACE HOLM'ES, ARTHUR ERNEST JERRAM.

Commissioner or Patentl,

Washington. D. 0."

return It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,121,967, granted December 22.

191-1, upon the application of Arthur Bates. of Leicester, and Harold E. Cooper, of

Norwich. England, for an improvement in Turn-Shoe Rte-Forming Machines."

errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 5.

line 55, for the word the read its; page 6, line 19, after the word jack -trike out the comma; same page, line 20, for the word last" read shoe; and that the mid Letters Patent; should be read with these corrections therein that the ame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Otfice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of June, A. D., 1915.

[3mm] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissionerof Patents. 

